Ignoring court orders costs Penticton man six months in jail

A 20 year old Penticton man will spend six months in jail for ignoring numerous court orders after being sentenced in Penticton court this morning, July 11, 2016.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

July 11, 2016 - 8:00 PM

PENTICTON - A Penticton man who thumbed his nose at three conditional discharges by committing numerous breaches will serve several months in jail for ignoring the law.

Lukas Michael Danielson, 20, entered guilty pleas on six counts of breaching a probation order, two counts of breach of undertaking, one count of theft under $5,000 and one count of wilfully resisting a peace officer in Penticton court today, July 11.

The charges related to conditional sentences handed to Danielson for crimes committed during a roughly five month period in Penticton last winter and this spring.

Danielson was caught stealing over $500 worth of Lego merchandise on Nov.13, 2015, after leaving the store with the goods hidden in a stroller.

He was released on conditions, including one to serve a number of volunteer hours in the community.

"He failed to make himself available to his parole officer on numerous occasions, in addition to failing to perform his community service within the allotted period,” Crown prosecutor Vern Frolick told court.

On May 2, 2016, police found Danielson in breach of a curfew when they could not find him at his residence just after his 9 p.m. curfew.

Danielson showed up at the address a few minutes later, but when told he was under arrest, got into his girlfriend’s vehicle and told her to drive away. Commands by the police officer were ignored, as Danielson called his lawyer from inside the locked vehicle, which remained stationary. After speaking to his lawyer, Danielson opened the door was arrested.

Defence lawyer Robert Maxwell told court his client had not been working and had been under the influence of methamphetamine during his crimes.

“He’s been five months off the rails doing drugs. You’re not on court orders when you’re doing that, and there’s a price to pay,” he said, asking for a four month jail term for his client.

Observing the many breaches of probation orders and recognizance, in addition to two previous thefts and the one from Walmart, Judge Gale Sinclair said Danielson had “blown off” three conditional discharges for theft.

He issued a sentence of six months' jail time followed by a year’s probation.

“What a way to wreck a life. When will people get the message — crystal meth makes fools or idiots. It’s a sad situation,” he said, telling Danielson if he didn’t get off the drug he might die, or spend a lot more time in jail.

Daneilson has served 26 days of his six month sentence since his bail was revoked on June 16, 2016. He receives no credit for time served.

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